Episode Details

Jean Kittson has spent a lifetime making Australians laugh, but behind the humour is a deeply personal and confronting exploration of death, dying, grief, and the aged care system. In this episode, I sit down with comedian, author, speaker, and Patron of Palliative Care Nurses Australia, Jean Kittson, to talk about how her own fear and avoidance of death transformed into advocacy and education around end-of-life care.

Jean shares how growing up in a family that never spoke about death left her feeling frightened, unprepared, and emotionally disconnected from grief. She reflects on the first time she saw a dead body, the misconceptions she held about palliative care, and the surprising warmth, humour, and humanity she discovered within the palliative care community.

Together, we unpack the realities of navigating ageing, hospitals, residential aged care, advance care planning, and the heartbreaking gaps families can fall through when support systems fail. Jean speaks candidly about the traumatic deaths of both her parents, the emotional toll of advocating for them, and the lessons she wishes every family knew before facing end-of-life decisions.

This conversation is raw, honest, funny in moments, and deeply important. It’s a reminder that planning matters, conversations matter, and that no matter how informed we think we are, none of us should have to navigate death and dying alone.

Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared.

Take care,
Catherine

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